After Republicans suffered major losses in Tuesday’s midterm elections, President Trump has reportedly been asking advisers whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should keep his job, according to CBS News. One source told the outlet that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is being floated as a possible replacement. The idea is that the Senate could confirm him during the lame-duck session, before the new Congress takes office. Publicly, the President has said he thinks Hegseth is doing a very good job.

The war with Iran is now at the center of the debate over Tuesday’s results. Vice President JD Vance wrote on X, “The reason we lost is the war,” according to CBS News. Voters, service members and military families deserve a full public accounting of how that war was planned and run, and of who made the key calls.

Rushing a new Pentagon chief through a lame-duck Senate would let outgoing lawmakers make one of the most important national security decisions in government while skipping the questions the public wants answered.

Before the Senate confirms anyone to lead the Department of Defense, Congress should hold open, bipartisan hearings on the Iran war. Senators should also wait until the newly elected Congress is seated to vote on any nominee for Secretary of Defense. Whether Hegseth stays or goes, the next leader of the military should face full scrutiny from the lawmakers voters just chose.

This is not about party. It is about making sure the people who send troops into harm’s way answer to the public.

Sign the petition to demand Iran war hearings now, before a lame-duck Senate rushes through the next Defense Secretary.